To assess the effect of beta-blocker treatment on left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV Gls) as measured by echocardiography in patients with MB (Myocardial Bridge).Between January 2019 a...

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) for POAF following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This retrospective study screened patients who underwent isolated CABG between June 2017 and January 2024. POAF was diagnosed using standard clinical criteria. UAR was calculated by dividing the uric acid level by the albumin value. This study included a total of 396 patients, who were categorized into two groups: POAF- and POAF+. Among them, 321 patients (mean age: 61.7 ± 10.8 years; 74.7% male) belonged to the POAF- group, while 75 patients (mean age: 71.3 ± 10.04 years; 68.1% male) were in the POAF+ group. While there were no significant differences observed between the groups in terms of sex, those in the POAF+ group were statistically older. The univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that age, C-reactive protein, hypertension, serum uric acid level, and UAR are independent risk factors for POAF. In the receiver operating characteristics analysis, the UAR (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.775) was found to be a better indicator compared to uric acid (AUC: 0.649) and serum albumin (AUC: 0.606), with a sensitivity of 70.5% and a specificity of 69.2%. UAR was shown to be an independent risk factor for POAF following isolated CABG.

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of beta-blocker use on left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV Gls) in echocardiography in patients with MB (Myocardial Bridge). Patients and methods: A single-center study was conducted prospectively in which patients with coronary angiography were performed and myocardial bridging was detected between January 2019 and February 2022. A total of 100 patients (38 females, 62 males; mean age: 57.3±9.6 years; range, 32-75 years) with myocardial bridging were recruited consecutively and strain echocardiography was performed. Results: All patients in our study were followed in sinus rhythm, and there was a statistically significant difference in mean heart rate between groups I and II (p<0,001). LV Gls was found to be statistically significant in favor of group II in the comparison of group I [(-12,57)±3 vs. (-15,92)±2,9] and group II (p<0.001). Conclusion: LV Gls is positively affected in echocardiography thanks to the negative chronotropic effect obtained with beta-blocker therapy in patients with MB detected in coronary angiography.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of the Mehran score for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) following peripheral transcatheter angioplasty (PTA) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Patients and methods: Between January 2020 and July 2024, a total of 103 patients (74 males, 29 females; mean age: 62.6±10.1 years; range, 44 to 75 years) who underwent PTA were retrospectively analyzed. The Mehran score was calculated for all patients meeting inclusion criteria. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg/dL or a relative increase ≥25% within 48 to 72 h post-procedure. The predictive value of the Mehran score was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors for CIN. Results: Contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 19 patients (18.4%). Patients who developed CIN received significantly higher contrast volumes (p<0.05). The optimal Mehran score cut-off for predicting CIN was 11.2, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.712 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.612-0.826; sensitivity 69%, specificity 73%). Independent predictors of CIN included advanced age, diabetes mellitus, higher contrast volume, baseline glomerular filtration rate, and the Mehran score. Patients with CIN had longer hospital stays (3.9±1.7 vs. 1.9±0.7 days, p=0.002) and higher amputation rates (10.6% vs. 2.9%, p=0.004). Conclusion: The Mehran score is a valuable tool for predicting CIN after PTA in PAD patients. Risk stratification using the Mehran score may guide preventive strategies, although PAD-specific models incorporating additional parameters are warranted.

The J-CTO score is a well-established tool for evaluating lesion complexity and predicting procedural success in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous